The lights suddenly burst on, and before Li Yan could even scream—
"Happy Birthday!!"
The room exploded with cheers, confetti, and her little sister nearly tackling her in a hug. Her friends popped up from behind furniture, her parents stood beaming near the cake, and even her usually-stoic grandfather was smiling in the corner.
For a second, she blinked, speechless.
Then laughter bubbled out of her like sunlight breaking through clouds. "You guys… really got me."
The warmth of the celebration wrapped around her like a blanket — cake, photos, her favorite music, all of it. For a moment, the strange dreams, — all of it faded into the background. She was just Li Yan, ordinary high school girl, eating strawberry cake with her family.
But only for a moment.
---
The next day passed quietly. School was boring. The teachers talked too much.
By the time she stepped off the bus that evening, the sky was a soft orange. Leaves rustled in the wind.
She was halfway home when the feeling came again.
That someone-watching-me feeling.
She stopped. Turned.
A tall man in a black coat was suddenly in front of her. She hadn't heard him approach — he was just there.
He gave a deep, practiced bow. "Good evening, young lady," he said, voice smooth like he'd spent years perfecting it. "I am the butler of the Zheng family. My master requests your presence."
Li Yan blinked. "The who family?"
He gestured to a sleek black car parked nearby. "Please. It is urgent."
"No, I'm not—wait, what?!"
Before she could turn or run, two other men emerged from behind her. They weren't rough — but they were fast. She barely had time to scream before they dragged her toward the car.
A cloth covered her eyes. Her heart pounded. The motion of the car, the muffled voices, her breath catching in her throat — it was like something out of a crime drama.
What do they want with me?!
After what felt like forever, the car stopped. The cloth came off.
She blinked at the sight before her.
A huge estate, more like a castle, with high walls, traditional courtyards, and red lanterns glowing like watchful eyes.
She was led through a carved wooden door into a richly decorated room.
The moment she stepped inside, a man rushed forward.
Middle-aged, but strong — almost intimidating. His dark hair was tied back in a warrior's knot, and his suit clung to a body that looked like it could punch through stone.
He stopped in front of her. His hands trembled.
"Zheng yueling?" he whispered.
She stared at him in confusion. "My name is—"
But he didn't let her finish.
The man pulled her into a hug. His arms were tight, almost desperate.
"My daughter," he said, voice shaking. "You're alive…"